Introduction. Diabetes is classified as a long-term condition (ALD), which entitles patients to 100% reimbursement of medical care costs by the national health insurance system. The objective of this study is to estimate the incidence of ALD hospital admissions for diabetes among children, by age and sex, and to identify trends over time. Methods. Data on ALD admissions for diabetes from 2003 to 2005 were extracted from the databases of the National Health Insurance Fund for Salaried Workers (CnamTS), the Agricultural Social Mutual Fund (MSA), and the Social Security System for the Self-Employed (RSI), representing 97% of the population covered by health insurance in France. Results. In 2005, 2,545 children under the age of 20 were admitted to long-term care for diabetes; 54% were boys, and the average age at admission was 11 years. The crude incidence rate was 16 per 100,000; it increased with age from 9 per 100,000 in the 0–4 age group to 21 per 100,000 in the 10–14 age group, then decreased to 18 per 100,000 in the 15–19 age group. Incidence rates were similar among boys and girls, except in the 15–19 age group, where the rate was higher among boys. No trend over time was observed between 2003 and 2005. Conclusion. The study of the incidence of ALDs for diabetes provides useful information for monitoring childhood diabetes in France. However, this information is limited by the likely existence of multiple coverage requests for the same child due to administrative reasons.